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Adjustments to ALWAYS carry

3K views 43 replies 15 participants last post by  Chainfire 
#1 · (Edited)
I've only been carrying for a couple years now. I'm still learning about changing my old ways of carrying a cell phone, my pocket knife, keys, even my wallet to accommodate my holster. My hardest part is my cell phone. Always carried it on my right side from day one. But my dominant side for my firearm is that side too(OWB). So I'm trying to carry my cell on the left side now. I find that my cell and my firearm argue for the same position(right side). Unfortunately cell usual wins. I wish to change that. My body seems real uncomfortable changing the position of my cell. But I'm trying my hardest to stick with it. Did anyone else go through this, and how did you adjust?
 
#12 ·
Cell in my pocket, not an option. Ankle holster, same firearm by the way, working on that too(earlier post). 100% of the time, me nether, but want to be better then I am now..
 
#4 ·
I've only been carrying for a couple years now. I'm still learning about changing my old ways of carrying a cell phone, my pocket knife, keys, even my wallet to accommodate my holster.

Did anyone else go through this, and how did you adjust?
Don't know that there's a particular method that'll work for everyone. I got a much thinner wallet. Erased three-fourths of the keys for daily carry. Cut more than half the crapola. I placed the holstered sidearm in the most effective spot for rapid deployment. Only then did I determine what else I could carry along with me, so long as the most-important element was taken care of. Dropped about half the normal stuff.

Another option is, if you wear a sport coat or jacket, to carry the few items that won't fit in the pants pockets in the jacket pocket(s) instead. Vitals on you; excess/expendables on the jacket.

What I'm down to: holstered sidearm and mags; thin wallet with precious little in it; a couple of keys on a slim ring; the thinnest and lightest small phone I can get away with. Phone can be carried in shirt pocket or in jacket; and I don't always carry the phone. Anything else is carried in a small satchel or folding binder.
 
#9 ·
Ok. Wallet front right pocket. Left pocket, keys. Right hip, belt mount, cell. I get into left pocket to get keys to drive, more so then right pocket, so cell not in the way(before CC). Now I switch my phone to the left side, its more in the way, considering I get into that pocket(left) more often. Its just out of the ordinary then I'm used to. I'm sure with practice, someday I'll get over it. I'm wondering how others dealt with it, I can't be the only one.
 
#6 · (Edited)
I can only tell you what I did.

I carry the same thing everyday and I make a point of carrying it in the same place. If you do it long enough it becomes a habit.

I've said this before but I live in a place where almost everybody looks like they do their shopping at REI. So I can get away with cargo pants and no one pays me any mind.

The biggest reason I picked Wrangler cargo pants is because the have a dedicated phone pocket but there are other brands that have that feature.

ETA: The most important part of this is mindset. I. Do. Not. Walk. Out. My. Door. Unarmed. that is absolutely non negotiable.

You take care of that and every thing else will work itself out.

 
#13 ·
Other than weight that ought to be a comfortable carry. My Kahr CW40 is 7 ounces lighter and I carry IWB. Perhaps you could try that. After a few minutes I don't even know I'm carrying and IWB means interference with my right pocket is minimal.
Agreed, trying that too. It can't be that difficult to switch my phone from right to left. There inlays the problem.. But after 20yrs, its seems to be. Weight, not an issue.
 
#17 ·
Cell in my pocket, not an option.
No idea what sort of phone you have. But if you're willing to give up the "smart" phone format, at least the size, you can go much smaller on the phones. (Myself, I do a flip-phone, which is about one-fourth the overall size of the much larger "smart" phones.) And those can most definitely fit in a small pocket on the shirt or jacket. If you don't do internet searches on the phone, perhaps that would be an option for you. Certainly gets the phone away from your pants and belt line.
 
#18 ·
I'm retired. PANTS are optional. Do I go anywhere unarmed? Only Federal properties where I cannot carry.

My ESP SUCKS. If it worked, I would win the lottery every day. I cannot foretell when I am going to encounter someone that needs me to shoot them.

I also wear cargo shorts or similar khakis. Yeah, cell phone pocket on L leg. I pocket carry on right.
 
#19 ·
I carry my wallet on my back pocket right side. My knife is in my front pocket right side. Usually my keys is on my front pocket left side. And my phone goes on either side sometimes left, sometimes right. My gun goes right in the middle where my belt buckle is. Before I would keep it like that but more to the right side which made it really uncomfortable for carrying long periods of time. But recently I moved it to where its perfectly centered where my belt buckle is and now it feels like its not even there and its really comfortable now. I have a flashlight on my pistol and so it took me a good while and constant adjusting during different seasons of the year until I finally found what works for me.
 
#30 ·
I carry my piece, IWB, where my right rear pants pocket is. I moved my wallet from the right rear to the left rear, I still carry my pocket knife in my right front and my phone in my shirt pocket.
 
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#32 ·
I carry my phone in my back pocket (smart phone) if I am wearing levies or some such pants.
I hate having to tuck it into a cargo pants type pocket.
I'm having to change also because my new vehicle with the bluetooth won't pick it up unless it is nearer the radio/center console.
My full sized 1911 is staying at 3 oclock. Everything else HAS to move to accomodate that.
 
#34 ·
Im pretty consistent in how I keep things organized in my pockets.

Front right, gun if im pocket carrying or phone if im IWB
Watch pocket, victorinox sd and puff bar
Left front, phone, knife, and bic lighter
Back left, tobacco and bandana
Back right, wallet
 
#35 ·
I'm naturally Left handed, so growing up in a Right Hand world I am more ambidextrous. Front Left jean pocket carry inside the proper DeSantis holster. Right Front has keys, knife, and change. Smarter than me phone is on my Right side clipped to my Leather belt in a hard plastic case/holster combo. Wallet in Right Rear and Handkerchief in Left Rear pocket. Left Rear doubles in that a small semiauto can sit behind the handkerchief if wearing dress pants. I wear suspenders so no pants sag due to carrying.
 
#38 ·
Day 3 carrying my phone in the opposite side(left). After 25yrs of it being on the right side. Harder then I even imagined. Sounds stupid, but changing a 25yr habit is harder then you might think.. All is going well though. I think I can, I think i can, I think I can.... [emoji1787]
 
#39 ·
Try this on for size.
My normal everyday carry is a Ruger American full size 45acp at 3.30 OWB
Wallet with chain right rear pocket.
Knife right front pocket.
BUG Left front pocket
Spare mag belt carrier left 9.00
Phone left belt holder left 8.30.
Keys right front pocket.

On church security days add a radio left belt clip behind the phone.
Stun gun right belt OWB 4.oo
Steel knuckles left rear pocket.

If you really want or need too you'll make it work.
 
#40 ·
I dont carry a phone on my person very much. I have one "available", like in my car while I am out and about -or- in a desk drawer. Sometimes I just leave the phone in the car as these mobile devices do not rule me and are certainly not the center of my universe. As a person who grew up in the 70s, I couldnt care less if I have constant communication with people or not. Its a luxury

If I were a person who simply HAD to carry a phone around, I dont give a flip what side or what pocket it resides. I think some people need to take charge of their mental landscape and stop giving in so easily to minor inclinations.
 
#41 ·
I had to adjust everything when I lost my pinky on my right hand, I reach to quick in my right side pockets and hit that spot where my pinky was ouch!.... it’ll almost make you piss your pants
I have lost a lot of things in my life, but so far I have kept up with my fingers.
 
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#44 ·
Did you mother ever tell you, "Son, you would lose your head if it wasn't attached to your shoulder?" If I had a dollar.....
 
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